Angelic Oak – California Chaparral

This beautiful massive oak tree draped in mist watches over the California chaparral in Russian Ridge Open Space.

I took this photograph along Ancient Oaks Trail, in Russian Ridge Open Space, California. I must have passed this tree close to a hundred times. It's located on one of my favorite hikes in one of my favorite places. But for some reason, despite its imposing size, it never seemed to catch my attention too much. But on this morning, while covered in dew, the rising sun back-lit the tree in such a way that it seemed to come to life, almost as if possessed by some sort of divinity. The tree seemed like an guardian angel, watching over the acres of California chaparral.

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